Transaction system

Abstract

To urge a user who has failed in credit examination to perform purchase action.SOLUTION: A settlement management server 30 sets credit limit information indicating an upper limit amount by which a credit transaction can be performed in a store operated by a business operator. When receiving an instruction to purchase a commodity using a credit transaction from a user terminal 20, a provider server 10 inquires of a settlement management server about a credit limit balance of the user. When the price of the product exceeds the credit line balance, the provider server 10 notifies the user terminal 20 that the product cannot be purchased with the current credit line balance, and then transmits information on a substitute product that can be purchased within the range of the credit line balance or a procedure for increasing the credit line balance to the user terminal 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a credit transaction system. [Background technology]

[0002] In credit transactions using credit cards, etc., if a user fails a credit check, the user cannot purchase a product (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). A technology for reducing the occurrence of such inconveniences is disclosed in Patent Document 3. The technology disclosed in Patent Document 3 recommends products in a price range that matches the credit limit (social status) of the user's credit card. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-36351

[0004] [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-293343

[0005] [Patent Document 3] Patent No. 7118736 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] For example, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 3 makes it possible for businesses to encourage users to purchase products within the price range of their credit limit. However, if a user wants to purchase a desired product but fails the credit check because the product is too expensive, they have no choice but to abandon the purchase.

[0007] The present invention aims to encourage users who have failed a credit check to make purchases. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In one aspect, the present invention provides a commercial transaction method comprising the steps of: when a business server receives an instruction from a user terminal to purchase a product using a credit transaction, inquiring of the user's credit limit balance from a payment management server; the payment management server notifying the user of the credit limit balance in response to the inquiry; and, if the price of the product exceeds the credit limit balance, the business server notifying the user that the product cannot be purchased with the current credit limit balance, and then transmitting to the user terminal information about alternative products that can be purchased within the credit limit balance or procedures for increasing the credit limit balance.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the substitute product is determined based on products that the user has previously viewed in the store. In a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises a step in which the payment management server sets credit limit information indicating the upper limit of the amount of credit that can be used for credit transactions at stores operated by the business operator.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the procedure includes a process of requesting the payment management server to increase the upper limit.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the procedure includes a process of notifying the user terminal of information based on a planned change in the credit line balance.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the credit limit information is set for each user for each business operator, and the credit limit balance is the credit limit granted to the user minus the total amount of credit transactions conducted at stores of multiple businesses.

[0013] In another aspect, the present invention provides a commercial transaction device having a reception unit that, when an instruction to purchase a product using a credit transaction is received from a user terminal, queries a payment management server about the user's credit limit balance, and a purchase promotion unit that, if the price of the product exceeds the credit limit balance, notifies the user that the product cannot be purchased with the current credit limit balance, and then transmits to the user terminal information about similar products that can be purchased within the credit limit balance or procedures for increasing the credit limit balance.

[0014] In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a program for causing a computer to execute the steps of, when an instruction to purchase a product using a credit transaction is received from a user terminal, inquiring of the user's credit limit balance from a payment management server, and, if the price of the product exceeds the credit limit balance, notifying the user that the product cannot be purchased with the current credit limit balance, and then transmitting to the user terminal information about alternative products that can be purchased within the credit limit balance or procedures for increasing the credit limit balance. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to this invention, it is possible to encourage a user who has failed a credit check to take proactive action toward purchasing a product. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 shows the configuration of a commercial transaction system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 3 shows the configuration of a business server in the embodiment. [Figure 3] 10 shows the functional configuration of a processor of the business operator's server according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] 10 shows the functional configuration of a payment processing server in the embodiment. [Figure 5] 10 shows an example of information stored in a payment processing server. [Figure 6] An example of the operation of this embodiment will be described. [Figure 7]An example of the display on the user terminal (part 1) is shown below. [Figure 8] An example of the display on the same user terminal (part 2) is shown below. [Figure 9] An example of the display on the same user terminal (part 3) is shown below. [Figure 10] An example of the display on the same user terminal (part 4) is shown below. [Figure 11] An example of the display on the same user terminal (part 5) is shown below. [Figure 12] An example of the display on the same user terminal (part 6) is shown below. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Fig. 1 shows the functional configuration of a commercial transaction system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The commercial transaction system 1 includes one or more business entity servers 10, each of which is a commercial transaction device, one or more user terminals 20, and a payment management server 30. These business entity servers 10, user terminals 20, and payment management server 30 are connected to a network 50 such as the Internet or a mobile communications network. Note that the numbers of user terminals 20 and business entity servers 10 shown in the figure are merely examples and are arbitrary.

[0018] The business server 10 is a server that provides an e-commerce site to users via a network 50 and executes commercial transactions with users. This business server 10 can execute e-commerce transactions with users using credit institutions such as credit companies. In the following, credit transactions refer to a transaction format in which purchased goods or services are provided first and payment is actually billed at a later date, and include what are known as credit card payments and code payments.

[0019] The user terminal 20 is a terminal that accesses an electronic commerce site (electronic store; also called an "EC site" or "online store"; hereinafter referred to as "EC site") provided by the business server 10 and executes commercial transactions (purchasing goods and services, etc.), and is specifically a personal computer, a smartphone, etc. The EC site may be built on a web browser basis, or may be a so-called dedicated app designed for smartphones.

[0020] The payment management server 30 is managed and operated by a credit card issuer or other credit institution, and performs credit management for each user. Specifically, it stores information about each user's credit limit, acquires details of commercial transactions (including at least information about the purchase amount) carried out at each store (affiliated store), and stores fluctuations in the credit limit balance for each user. In other words, the payment management server 30 keeps track of each user's current credit limit balance and information about future fluctuations in the credit limit balance, such as repayment schedules.

[0021] The credit limit information indicates the maximum amount that a user can use for credit transactions at a store (EC site) operated by a business operator that manages and operates each business server 10 or a business operator that has a business partnership with the business operator. This maximum amount may be subject to a time limit (for example, the maximum amount that can be used for credit transactions in a month). The credit limit balance is the upper limit of the amount of goods that can be purchased using credit transactions. In the following, when we refer to "goods," it is not limited to goods (tangible objects) that can be purchased or loaned, but also includes services, and refers to anything that can be the subject of a commercial transaction.

[0022] FIG. 2 shows an example configuration of the provider server 10. As shown in the figure, the provider server 10 includes a processor 11, a storage unit 12, a communication unit 13, and an input / output unit 14. Here, the processor 11 is the control center of the provider server 10. The storage unit 12 includes a volatile storage unit such as RAM and a non-volatile storage unit such as ROM or HDD. The volatile storage unit is used as a work area by the processor 11. The non-volatile storage unit stores programs executed by the processor 11 and various databases. The communication unit 13 is a means for communicating with other devices connected to the network 50. The input / output unit 14 includes an output unit such as a display that outputs various types of information, and an input unit including an operation unit and an input interface that inputs various types of information.

[0023] 3 shows the functional configuration of the processor 11. In this embodiment, the processor 11 executes the programs in the storage unit 12 to function as a reception unit 101, a purchase promotion unit 103, and a purchase procedure unit 104.

[0024] In response to a request from the user terminal 20, the reception unit 101 provides the user terminal 20 with a page of the e-commerce site and receives instructions to purchase a product from the user. When the acquisition unit 102 receives an instruction to purchase a product using credit transaction from the user terminal 20, it inquires about the remaining credit limit of the user from the payment management server 30, which manages the credit of the user.

[0025] A credit limit is set for one user, for example. The credit limit balance is the amount obtained by subtracting the total amount of credit transactions conducted at stores of businesses participating in multiple commercial transaction systems 1 from the credit limit granted to one user.

[0026] In addition to being set for each user, credit limits may also be set for each store or business. For example, assume that user A's credit limit is 1 million yen, Business X's credit limit is 1 million yen, and Business Y's credit limit is 1 million yen. In this case, for example, at the user's request, Business X's credit limit may be changed to 800,000 yen and Business Y's credit limit to 500,000 yen. If this change is made, if A spends 800,000 yen with Business X, he or she will only be able to spend 200,000 yen with Business Y. In other words, A's remaining credit limit with Business Y will be 200,000 yen.

[0027] The purchase promotion unit 103 is a means for notifying the user that the product that is the subject of the user's purchase instruction cannot be purchased with the current credit limit balance when the price of the product exceeds the user's credit limit balance, and then presenting alternative options that may lead to purchasing behavior to the user terminal 20.

[0028] For example, there are two alternatives: The first alternative is information about purchasing alternative products that can be purchased within the credit limit balance. The second alternative is information about procedures for increasing the credit limit balance. Either the first or second alternative may be presented, or both may be presented.

[0029] Regarding the first alternative, the alternative product is, for example, a product similar to the product that is the subject of the purchase instruction. To select this similar product, the processor 11 stores in the storage unit 12 a product database DB2 that indicates products available from the relevant business and an access history database DB1 that indicates the browsing status of products (including those offered by businesses other than the relevant business) for all users who have previously used the EC site. The purchase promotion unit 103 then searches the product database DB2 for products similar to the product that is the subject of the purchase instruction and that are available for purchase within the credit limit balance, and presents them to the user terminal 20 as alternative products. In this case, the purchase promotion unit 103 determines the user's preferences based on the user's data in the access history database DB1 and determines the similarity of the products based on these preferences. The user's preferences refer to, for example, whether the user prioritizes the same product's functions or the brand (manufacturer) when selecting a product. A second alternative is, for example, a credit limit increase process.

[0030] The purchase procedure unit 104 is a means for carrying out procedures for purchasing products in accordance with instructions from a user. If the price of the product that is the subject of a user's purchase instruction is within the user's credit limit balance, the purchase procedure unit 104 carries out procedures for shipping the product to the user and requests the payment management server 30, which manages the user's credit, to settle the purchase of the product by the user. Furthermore, if the price of the product that is the subject of a user's purchase instruction exceeds the user's credit limit balance and the user instructs the purchase of an alternative product priced within the credit limit balance, the purchase procedure unit 104 executes procedures for shipping the instructed alternative product to the user and requests the settlement management server 30, which manages the user's credit, to settle the purchase of the alternative product by the user. Furthermore, if the price of the product that is the subject of a user's purchase instruction exceeds the user's credit limit balance and the user instructs a credit limit increase process, the purchase procedure unit 104 generates a screen for accepting the credit limit increase process and presents it on the user terminal 20. The user performs a predetermined operation on this screen to access the site of the settlement management server 30 and request a credit limit increase process.

[0031] 4 shows the functional configuration of the payment management server 30. The payment management server 30 has a communication unit 301, a credit management unit 302, and a storage unit 303. The communication unit 301 communicates with the business server 10 to exchange various information. Specifically, the communication unit 301 receives from the business server 10 a request for the price of the product that the user wishes to purchase and the credit limit balance that includes at least the user and ID, and transmits the credit limit balance information to the business server 10. In addition, when a commercial transaction using credit is concluded, the communication unit 301 acquires the details of the transaction (at least the details of the settlement process, including the identification information of the business that executed the transaction and the purchase amount), and also acquires the fact of repayment and other events related to fluctuations in the credit limit from the server of a financial institution or the like (not shown). In addition, the payment management server 30 may access the server of a credit screening agency (not shown in the figure) via the communication unit 301 on the business server 10, and obtain the screening results (whether or not a credit limit can be set and the credit limit (amount)) from the server when initially setting a credit limit for a user.

[0032] When the credit management unit 302 receives a request for credit limit balance including a user ID, it extracts the credit limit balance of the user identified by the user ID from the credit management database DB31. When it acquires an event that causes a change in the credit limit balance, such as the completion of a commercial transaction or repayment, it reflects the result of that event in the credit management database DB31. In this way, the credit management database DB31 is updated successively.

[0033] The memory unit 303 stores a credit management database DB31. FIG. 5 shows an example of information stored in the credit management database DB31. As shown in the figure, at least information on the credit limit balance is recorded in association with a user ID. In this example, in addition to the credit limit balance, information on the credit limit granted to each user (the total amount that can be used for credit transactions at all stores operated by businesses participating in the commercial transaction system 1), credit limit notes, and repayment schedule is stored. For example, credit limit notes specify the upper limit for credit transactions at a specific store. Information on the repayment schedule includes, for example, the date of withdrawal for steel material (repayment deadline), information on the repayment method (number of installments, revolving payment, etc.), and other information related to future fluctuations in the credit limit balance.

[0034] Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the commercial transaction system 1. Figs. 7 to 12 are diagrams showing examples of images displayed on the screen of the user terminal 20. The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to these figures.

[0035] Before a user uses the commercial transaction system 1 to carry out a product purchase procedure, a credit limit is first set for the user. For example, the user operates the user terminal 20 to access a page for setting a credit limit on the e-commerce site of the business server 10, and inputs information required for credit screening (age, occupation, annual income, etc.). The business server 10 transmits this received information to the payment management server 30. The payment management server 30 transmits this information, for example, to a server (not shown in FIG. 1, etc.) managed by an institution that specializes in credit screening, and receives the results of the credit screening (information on the amount of the credit limit to be granted to the user). The payment management server 30 stores the information thus obtained in the credit management database DB31, linking it to the user's identification information (user ID).

[0036] The method of granting a credit limit to a user is not limited to the above example. For example, the user terminal 20 may directly access the payment management server 30 and request the setting of a credit limit. In short, the payment management server 30 uses some method to obtain the credit limit of a user who is using the commercial transaction system 1 for the first time. Thereafter, it is sufficient if the payment management server 30 can grasp the fluctuations in the credit limit balance resulting from all credit transactions carried out in the commercial transaction system 1.

[0037] 6, the reception unit 101 receives an instruction to purchase a product using credit transaction from the user terminal 20 (step S1). Specifically, the user operates the user terminal 20 to log in to an EC site and displays the screen SC1 shown in FIG. 7. Then, the user searches for and examines products on the site, decides to purchase the product (a television in this example) using credit transaction, and performs an operation to select object OB1. The contents of this operation are transmitted from the user terminal 20 to the business operator's server.

[0038] Returning to FIG. 6, the business server 10 then inquires about the remaining credit limit of the user from the payment management server 30 that manages the credit of the user (step S2).

[0039] When the business entity server 10 acquires the remaining credit limit of the user, the purchase promotion unit 103 determines whether the price of the product that is the subject of the user's purchase instruction is within the range of the remaining credit limit of the user (step S3).

[0040] 6, if the determination result in step S3 is "YES", the process proceeds to step S5, where the purchase procedure unit 104 executes the procedure for shipping the product instructed to be purchased to the user, and requests the payment management server 30, which manages the user's credit, to settle the purchase of the product by the user. At this time, a screen SC2 including a message object OB2 indicating that the purchase and settlement procedures have been completed is displayed on the screen of the user terminal 20, as shown in FIG.

[0041] 6, if the determination result in step S3 is "NO", the process proceeds to step S4, where the purchase promotion unit 103 presents alternatives for promoting the purchase to the user terminal 20. The purchase promotion unit 103 presents the first alternative and the second alternative described above to the user terminal 20.

[0042] 9 shows an example of a screen SC3 displayed on the user terminal 20. As shown in the figure, the purchase promotion unit 103 notifies the user that the specified product cannot be purchased due to an insufficient credit limit balance, and also presents the user with a first alternative and a second alternative.

[0043] 9, a message (object OB4) regarding the first alternative, "Shall we show you other products you can purchase?", and a "Yes" button (object OB5) below it, are displayed on the display screen of the user terminal 20. In addition, a message (object OB6) regarding the second alternative, "Shall we increase your credit limit?", and a "Yes" button (object OB7) below it are displayed. Returning to FIG. 6, when step S4 is completed, the process proceeds to step S5.

[0044] In step S4 of Figure 6, when object OB5 on screen SC3 of Figure 9 is selected, the purchase promotion unit 103 sends to the user terminal 20 data of a page that introduces alternative products that are similar to the product that the user has requested to purchase and that can be purchased within the user's credit limit balance, and accepts the request to purchase the alternative products. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 10, data for a screen SC4 is generated that includes an object OB8 indicating the content of the alternative product, a button (object OB9) for linking to a page with detailed information about the alternative product, and a button (object OB10) for accepting the purchase of the alternative product. In this example, when the user's credit limit balance is 300,000 yen, the user wishes to purchase a product for 320,000 yen, but the credit limit balance is insufficient, so an alternative product for 280,000 yen that the business operator server 10 has determined to have similar functions or brand is proposed. When the object OB10 shown in FIG. 10 is selected, in step S5 in FIG. 4, the purchase procedure unit 104 executes the process of shipping the substitute product to the user and requests the payment management server 30 to make a payment.

[0045] Furthermore, when object OB7 in Fig. 9 is selected in step S4 of Fig. 6, the purchase procedure unit 104 causes the user terminal 20 to display a screen SC5 for accepting a process to increase the user's credit limit, as shown in Fig. 11, in step S5 of Fig. 6. In this example, the current credit limit balance (object OB11), a field for inputting the amount of the limit to be increased (object OB121), and a button for inputting an execution instruction (object OB122) are displayed. When the user selects object OB122, a request for credit limit increase processing, including the input desired increase amount, is sent to the payment management server 30 or the site of a server managed by the screening institution. The user then waits until the credit limit increase is complete, accesses the EC site again, and performs the operation to purchase the product that the user originally wanted to purchase (i.e., the product that was not approved for purchase due to insufficient credit limit balance).

[0046] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to encourage a user who was unable to purchase a desired product due to an insufficient credit limit balance to take the next positive action. Furthermore, this embodiment has the effect of satisfying the user's desire to purchase, and increasing the business's strategic options. For example, each business will differentiate itself from other businesses in the method of recommending alternative products, the method of proposing credit limit adjustments, etc., and compete with each other to improve services to users.

[0047] <Other embodiments> Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention may have other embodiments, for example, as follows. Each embodiment can be combined as appropriate.

[0048] In the above embodiment, a case has been described in which a user has already been granted a credit limit when selecting a product to be purchased (in other words, a procedure for granting a credit limit is carried out in advance, separate from the purchase procedure). However, when a user attempts to purchase a product for the first time using the commercial transaction system 1 (when a credit limit has not yet been granted), the business operator server 10 may accept the purchase procedure and execute a process to set a credit limit for the user in cooperation with the payment management server 30. In this case, the purchase promotion unit 103 compares the just-set credit limit with the price of the product desired by the user, and if the credit limit is smaller than the price of the product (or if the user does not pass the screening during the credit period and a credit limit cannot be set (the credit limit is zero)), the purchase promotion unit 103 makes the first alternative proposal (proposing an alternative product) described above. If a credit limit has just been set or if a credit limit has not been set in the first place, the second alternative proposal is not made. Alternatively, only the second alternative may be presented regardless of whether a credit limit has already been granted. When determining how to present an alternative, the business entity server 10 may separately acquire information about the user's preferences in commercial transactions and other user attributes, and the purchase promotion unit 103 may determine an alternative suited to each user and a method of presenting the alternative (such as message content) based on this information.

[0049] If a credit limit has not been set or has just been set and there is a large discrepancy between the credit limit (or the credit limit balance) and the product price, the business server 10 may propose an alternative product, but may only accept cash payments for the proposed alternative product, rather than credit card payments or other credit transactions. In other words, the purchase of the alternative product is not limited to credit transactions.

[0050] In the above embodiment, the business operator provides the user with an online store where e-commerce is conducted, but the business operator may also conduct commerce in a physical store. That is, the present invention is not limited to the case where a user operates the user terminal 20 at home or the like to select and purchase (payment processing) products to be purchased on an EC site, but can also be applied to a case where, for example, a payment processing terminal (business operator terminal) is installed at a cash register or the like of a physical store, and products to be purchased are selected from catalogs or actual products (exhibits) displayed in the store, while the payment processing is realized by the user operating the business operator terminal or the user terminal 20 to transmit information required for the payment processing to this business operator terminal.

[0051] In the above embodiment, the payment management server may be a server managed and operated by an entity different from the company that manages payments (for example, an entity commissioned by a credit card company).

[0052] As the second alternative described above, the business server may notify the user terminal of information based on the expected fluctuations in the credit limit balance. Here, information based on the expected fluctuations in the credit limit balance corresponds to, for example, information that a purchase will be possible (or a pre-order will be possible) when the withdrawal date arrives, or information that the credit limit will become available if the payment for a purchased item is advanced (i.e., if an early repayment is made). For example, instead of OB3 in Fig. 9, the business operator server 10 displays on the user terminal 20 a screen SC6 including a message (object OB13) notifying the user of the possibility of increasing the credit limit balance by making an early repayment, as shown in Fig. 12. When the user selects object OB14 to check the repayment status, a request for information regarding the repayment status is sent from the business operator server 10 to the payment management server 30. When the business operator server 10 obtains the information regarding the repayment status from the payment management server 30, it displays the repayment status on the screen of the user terminal 20.

[0053] When presenting the second alternative, the business operator server 10 may not only inquire about the credit limit increase process but also propose changing the relationship between the credit limits and the stores. For example, suppose that in the initial settings, user A's credit limit is set to 1 million yen, business X's credit limit is set to 1 million yen, and business Y's credit limit is set to 1 million yen (i.e., in effect, credit limits are not set for each store), and then user A enters into a credit transaction with business X and runs out of credit limit balance. In this case, business operator server 10 of business X may propose, for example, to increase user A's credit limit to 1.5 million yen, business X's credit limit to 1.5 million yen, and business Y's credit limit to 1 million yen so that user A can purchase business X's products.

[0054] In the above embodiment, the business entity server 10 executes the credit limit increase process with the user's consent, but the business entity server 10 may request the payment management server 30 or the like to increase the credit limit without obtaining the user's consent.

[0055] In short, the present invention relates to an information processing system having a user terminal, a business server, and a payment management server, which executes the following steps: the payment management server sets credit limit information indicating the maximum amount that can be used for credit transactions at stores operated by the business; when the business server receives an instruction from the user terminal to purchase a product using a credit transaction, it inquires of the payment management server about the user's credit limit balance; the payment management server notifies the user of the credit limit balance in response to the inquiry; and if the price of the product exceeds the credit limit balance, the business server notifies the user that the product cannot be purchased with the current credit limit balance, and then sends to the user terminal information about alternative products that can be purchased within the credit limit balance or procedures for increasing the credit limit balance. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 1...commerce system, 10...business operator server, 20...user terminal, 30...payment management server, 50...network, 11...processor, 12...memory unit, 13...communication unit, 14...input / output unit, 101...reception unit, 103...purchase promotion unit, 104...purchase procedure unit, DB1...access history database, DB2...product database.

Claims

1. When the business server receives an instruction to purchase a product using a credit transaction from the user terminal, the business server inquires about the user's credit limit balance from the payment management server; a step of the payment management server notifying the credit line balance in response to the inquiry; a step in which, if the price of the product exceeds the credit limit balance, the business server notifies the user that the product cannot be purchased with the current credit limit balance, and then transmits to the user terminal information on an alternative product that can be purchased within the credit limit balance or a procedure for increasing the credit limit balance; A method of commerce having the following features:

2. The method further includes a step in which the payment management server sets credit limit information indicating the upper limit of the amount of credit that can be used for credit transactions at stores operated by the business operator. The method of claim 1.

3. The substitute product is determined based on products that the user has previously viewed in a store operated by the business operator. The method of claim 1.

4. The procedure for increasing the credit limit balance includes a process of requesting the payment management server to increase the upper limit. The method of claim 2.

5. The procedure for increasing the credit line balance includes a process of notifying the user terminal of information based on a planned change in the credit line balance. The method of claim 1.

6. The credit limit information is set for each business operator for each user, The credit limit balance is the amount obtained by subtracting the total amount of credit transactions conducted at stores of multiple businesses from the credit limit granted to the one user. The method of claim 2.

7. a reception unit that receives instructions for purchasing products using credit transactions from a user terminal; an acquisition unit that acquires the credit limit balance of the user of the user terminal from a payment management server; a purchase promotion unit that notifies the user that the price of the product exceeds the credit limit balance, and then transmits to the user terminal information about similar products that can be purchased within the credit limit balance or information about procedures for increasing the credit limit balance; A trading device having:

8. On the computer, receiving an instruction to purchase a product using credit transaction from a user terminal, inquiring of the user's credit limit balance to a payment management server; a purchase promotion unit that, if the price of the product exceeds the credit limit balance, notifies the user that the product cannot be purchased with the current credit limit balance, and then transmits to the user terminal information about an alternative product that can be purchased within the credit limit balance or a procedure for increasing the credit limit balance; A program to execute.

9. A system including a user terminal, a business server, and a payment management server, The business server a reception unit that receives instructions for purchasing products using credit transactions from a user terminal; an acquisition unit that acquires the credit limit balance of the user of the user terminal from a payment management server; a purchase promotion unit that notifies the user that the price of the product exceeds the credit limit balance, and then transmits to the user terminal information about similar products that can be purchased within the credit limit balance or information about procedures for increasing the credit limit balance; A trading system having:

Images